An Inquiry into the Stress levels of Elderly Jamaicans before and during the Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) Pandemic

लेखक

  • Paul Andrew Bourne Department of Institutional Research, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • Nickiesha Bailey Department of Nursing, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • Vincent M.S. Peterkin College of Humanities, Behavioural and Social Sciences, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • Kimberly Cooke Department of Nursing, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • Vijay Dacosta Department of Nursing, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • Kareema Ford Department of Nursing, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • James Fallah Department of Dental Hygiene, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • Calvin Campbell Department of Mathematics and Engineering, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • Clifton Foster Department of Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, W.I.
  • Caroline McLean Department of Nursing, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.

सार

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has become a dominant issue in Jamaica since the first recorded case on March 10, 2020.

Objective: This research seeks to: (1) find the level of stress among the Jamaican elderly before and during COVID-19, (2) the difference between male and female elderly stress levels during COVID-19, and (3) the difference in the stress levels of the various aged Jamaicans during COVID-19.

Methods: Using a correlational research design,a non-probability sampling, a questionnaire was created in Google Forms, and disseminated to the Jamaican elderly population across the 14 parishes to obtaindata. Five hundred twelve respondents completed the survey. Researchers performed descriptive analyses on the collected data.

Results: The elderly population stress level increased (76%) during COVID-19. Before COVID-19, the level of severe stress was 3.1% but this has increased to 21.7% duringCOVID-19. The findings revealed there is a statistical association between the level of stress and COVID-19 (χ2 critical= 19.023 < χ2 obtained = 259.240,P< 0.0001). A cross-tabulation between stress categories and gender of elderly Jamaicans revealed no statistical association between the two variables (χ2 critical=11.143 > χ2 obtained= 3.255 P 0.516).Furthermore, a cross-tabulation between stress categories and the age of elderly Jamaicans identified that there is no statistical association between the two variables (χ2 critical=17.535 > χ2 obtained= 14.182, P = 0.077 > 0.05).

Conclusions: Stress levels of the elderly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Identifying this increase provides a crucial starting point for future research on stress levels among the elderly as the COVID-19 pandemic continues with certain restrictions. Although the Ministry of Health and Wellness encourages elderly Jamaicans experiencing anxiety or stress during the COVID-19 to seek counselling if needed, the government must address the long-term welfare of the elderly population.

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प्रकाशित

2021-09-06

अंक

खंड 5 No. 2 (2021): International Journal of Recent Advances in Psychology & Psychotherapy

खंड

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